Northern Kentucky University head coach John Brannen instructs his team during the second half at BB&T Arena Saturday December 30, 2017. NKU beat University of Illinois-Chicago 86-51. Cara Owsley/The Enquirer

Compared with other moments this year, the atmosphere inside BB&T Arena on Saturday night hardly exemplified the dramatics of Northern Kentucky University basketball in 2017. Not that it needed to.

An undefeated team at home – Northern Kentucky – hosted one that was winless on the road – the University of Illinois at Chicago – in the second matchup in Horizon League play. Leading 49-16 at halftime, the Norse won 86-51.

But it also marked the final NKU game in the calendar year of 2017, which in turn meant the final game in arguably the program’s best year in its history.

In their first season eligible for postseason play, the Norse won Motor City Madness (the Horizon League Tournament) and appeared in the 2017 NCAA Tournament for their first time in program history. NKU was only the second school since 1970 to do so in its first possible year. For reference, NKU began collegiate athletics in 1971.

Even ignoring postseason success, the rapid transformation of a program previously from NAIA and Division II into an NCAA Tournament competitor came sooner than expected – in a good way.

After three years in the Atlantic Sun Conference, head coach John Brannen was hired and led the team into its first season in the Horizon. The Norse went 9-21. The next year, they went 24-10, which was the best turnaround of any school.

Quick success, in turn, has led to higher expectations.

Now 9-5 this season (2-0 Horizon), Brannen, now in his third season, has four starters returning from his tournament team a year ago. He was the conference coach of the year in 2016-17.

His center, Drew McDonald, was the preseason pick to be named the conference player of the year in 2017-18. He’s recorded a double-double in the last four games, including a 19-point, 12-rebound performance against UIC.

Point guard Lavone Holland II has the best assists-to-turnovers ratio in the Horizon League. Finishing with 12 first-half points, the senior guard is now nine points away from 1,000 career points. Forward Carson Williams has one of the country’s top field goal percentages.

The Norse have a fluid offense, with multiple scoring threats and a passing ability that cripples opposing defenses in both the outside and low point. Defensively, which is what Brannen wants his program to pride itself in, the team is equally as dangerous.

The blowout win Saturday proved as much.

Allowing only 16 points in the first half, the Norse forced 18 turnovers, had a dozen more rebounds and out-assisted the visitors 22-6. Barring the rebound ratio and maybe a few more points, those stats have occurred with noticeable frequency.

All of this means, essentially, that the Norse have a legitimate shot at another conference championship.

Picked second in the preseason behind Oakland, Northern Kentucky enters 2018 with more answers than questions. The question now, however, is if the team can live up to its potential. At least through the early portion of the season, there’s no reason to think otherwise. A matchup next Friday at Oakland will be the first real test.

“It’s been a good year to be a Norse,” McDonald said after the win. “We won our first Horizon League championship. Really, it’s all in the past now.”